<Begin Segment 11>

MA: So going back to, I guess, the war years, the wartime years, you know, a lot of people from the coast, Nihonjins started coming to Spokane. Do you remember that and how that changed the community?

MM: Uh-huh, yeah. And the sad, the only thing I didn't like about that, it was sad, because you got acquainted with somebody, the same grade, in the same grade as you, and then you knew eventually they're gonna go back to Seattle. And I would say that the majority of them have gone back, and I don't blame them; that isn't what I mean. I mean, you know, you get to know 'em and then they're moving back. But like I say, you can't blame them.

MA: Did, were there many that came to your school, your high school?

MM: Yeah, there was a, there was, there was quite a few. There was maybe about three or maybe even four in our, my class. I mean, yeah, there were quite a few. But there aren't very many now, they've all gone back and you can't blame them. Lot of 'em had businesses, I suppose.

MA: How did they seem to fit in with the community?

MM: Well, I think they fit in... I mean, I just thought they did. I think, if anything, they were, there were more things to do in Seattle. Like Spokane, there isn't anything to do, you know, unless you have a big family and you do things with the family all the time. Yeah, those... but see, there isn't a one in my class that's, that's here. They're all, they're gone, back to Seattle or somewhere around there. There was only one girl in my class, I think, her name, her last name was Hikida? She, I think she was the only girl that... I don't think there's anybody now.

MA: Do you think that Spokane changed a lot during the war years?

MM: Oh... you mean the Nihonjins?

MA: Yeah, I guess the community or just in general, did you see any changes that took place?

MM: Well, I don't... I'll tell you why I don't notice it that much is that I, I myself am bad. I quit going a lot of places, you know. I quit going to a lot of things. I mean, to almost all the Japanese activities, so that's my own fault, you know.

<End Segment 11> - Copyright © 2006 Densho. All Rights Reserved.